Prince Xiqi of Jin

Prince Xiqi (665 BCE-651 BCE) (simplified Chinese: 奚齐; traditional Chinese: 奚齊; pinyin: Xīqí), was the son of Li Ji, the concubine of Duke Xian of Jin, and the crown prince of the State of Jin since he replaced Prince Shensheng as crown prince. Late in his life, he became duke for about a month before he was killed.

Biography

In 665 BC, the twelfth year of the reign of Duke Xian of Jin, Li Ji gave birth to Prince Xiqi. Since Li Ji wanted her son to be the crown prince, she bribed two of Duke Xian's most trusted officials, Liang Wu (梁五) and Dongguan Biwu (東關嬖五). The two officials persuaded Duke Xian of Jin to let Prince Shensheng (申生), Prince Chonger (重耳) and Prince Yiwu (夷吾) leave the capital, Jiang (絳). The officials told the duke that the northern Rong tribes (戎族) and Di tribes (狄族) frequently attacked Jin such that the princes were needed to defend their territory. Duke Xian of Jin then sent Prince Shensheng to defend Quwo (曲沃), modern Quwo County in Shanxi. Duke Xian also sent Prince Chonger to defend the city of Pu (蒲), northwest of modern Xi County in Shanxi, and Prince Yiwu to Erqu (二屈), modern Ji County in Shanxi.

On the ninth month of 651 BC, Duke Xian of Jin died. Li Ji placed the 15-year old Crown Prince Xiqi into the throne of Jin and made Xunxi, a Jin official, the chancellor of Xiqi to help him in government affairs. On the tenth month of 651 BC, the Jin general Li Ke (里克) killed Xiqi roughly a month after his ascension. Duke Xian of Jin was not yet properly buried at that time. Xunxi then placed Prince Zhuozi, the cousin of Prince Xiqi, into the throne of Jin even though Zhuozi was still a toddler at that time. After that, Xunxi finished the burial of Duke Xian of Jin. On the eleventh month of 651 BC, Li Ke killed Zhuozi and his aunt Li Ji (驪姬). Xunxi then committed suicide by hanging himelf. Shao Ji, the younger sister of Li Ji and mother of Prince Zhuozi, was imprisoned.

See also